Mavericks Players Credit Team Meeting for Rebounding from Four-Game Losing Streak
The Mavericks turn a four-game skid into a four-game win streak with a team meeting, showcasing resilience and depth in a 123-120 victory over the Nuggets.
DENVER — After a deflating 115-113 loss to the Utah Jazz, which extended their losing streak to four games, the Dallas Mavericks knew they had to get back on track. Each defeat in that stretch had been decided by a single possession, magnifying issues with late-game execution, communication, and lapses. But instead of letting frustration fester, the Mavericks turned the moment into a catalyst for change.
What followed was a candid team meeting that players have credited with sparking their current four-game win streak, including a gritty 123-120 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Cup group stage on Friday. Dallas has won four consecutive games since, even despite playing two games without Luka Dončić
The Low Point in Utah
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Against the Jazz, Dončić’s 37-point performance wasn’t enough to overcome a late defensive lapse, as John Collins slipped through the Mavericks’ defense for an uncontested game-winning dunk with 6.4 seconds left. Miscommunication between Dončić and Quentin Grimes highlighted the team’s disjointed execution in high-pressure moments.
“We misunderstood the bench,” Dončić admitted after the loss. “That’s on me.”
Adding to the frustration was Dallas’s inability to secure the glass, a recurring issue that allowed the Jazz to capitalize on second-chance opportunities. Head coach Jason Kidd noted a lack of consistency throughout the game, particularly during the third quarter, when Utah outscored Dallas 38-21.
“I thought we started well,” Kidd said. “But once we started subbing, there was a decline. We’ve seen that in multiple quarters this season. Credit to the group for fighting back, but the lapses in that third quarter hurt us.”
The Meeting That Changed Everything
The Mavericks addressed their shortcomings head-on before even getting on the plane. Players and coaches gathered for a meeting, analyzed the film, and openly discussed their frustrations.
“After that loss, we had a meeting,” P.J. Washington explained. “It wasn’t just the players—coaches were involved too. We told ourselves we had to be better. That little skid we had, [the loss] was frustrating, but we knew we needed to bounce back.”
Multiple voices emerged during the meeting, including Kyrie Irving and key role players like Washington, Dereck Lively II, Markieff Morris, and Spencer Dinwiddie.
“A lot of voices were involved—Kai, Kieff, P.J., me, Gaff, even Spencer,” Lively said. “Everyone shared what they saw, whether it was about effort, mistakes, or competing. We needed to play high-level basketball, team basketball. That meeting helped us shift toward playing the way we’ve been these past few games.”
Dallas returned to the court with renewed focus, securing their next four games, including two without Dončić, who is currently sidelined due to a sprained right wrist.
“We’re not letting mistakes define us anymore,” Lively said. “It’s about learning from them and not being complacent with wins or losses. It’s a next-play, next-game mentality.”
Turning Lessons Into Results
The Mavericks’ growth was on display in Friday’s win over Denver. Despite a third-quarter collapse that mirrored their loss to Utah, the Mavericks stayed composed down the stretch, using balanced scoring and timely defensive stops to secure the win.
“Marshall is playing extremely well for us,” Kidd said of Naji Marshall, who scored a team-high 26 points against Denver. “With the game on the line, he makes a floater with one second on the shot clock. That’s a big-time play.”
Seven Mavericks scored in double figures against Denver, a testament to the team’s depth and trust in one another given that’s happened three games consecutively. Washington contributed 22 points, 13 rebounds, and three steals, while Grimes added 10 points and timely free throws in clutch moments.
“At the end of the day, we didn’t want this to go like it went the last time,” Washington said. “We locked in, tried to win every possession, and understood that every possession mattered at the end of the game.”
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks, now 9-7, remain alive in the NBA Cup race and will face the Miami Heat on Sunday before concluding group play against Memphis. As they continue to navigate injuries and the ups and downs of a typical season, the team meeting in Utah stands out as a defining moment.
The upcoming schedule features plenty of challenges, including a finale to the current three-game road trip on Monday against the Atlanta Hawks. Followed by likely hosting the New York Knicks on Wednesday without Dončić.
Beyond that, it remains to be seen when Dončić will be back in the lineup, but this group will need to continue to tread water in his absence.
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